Device for withdrawing labels from a store in labelling machines

ABSTRACT

A device for withdrawing labels from a fixed store in labelling machines, comprising a drive shaft rotably supported in a base and driven with continuous motion, a plate keyed on to the shaft, a plurality of oscillating elements comprising a cylindrical segment portion and supported rotably by the plate in positions angularly distributed on a circle concentric with the shaft, the cylindrical portions having a development substantially equal to the length of the labels and lying on a circle substantially tangential to the front label of the pack of labels contained in the store, drive members for driving the oscillating elements in such a manner that their cylindrical segment portion rolls on the front label of the store, and means for removing the label from the oscillating elements. The drive members are such that the cylindrical segment portions, during the angular interval in which they are not in contact with the front label of the store, are kept disposed concentric with the axis of the drive shaft.

ilnit States tet [1 Ease [11] 3,869,331 [4 1 Mar. 4, 1975 [5 DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING LABELS FROM A STORE IN 'LABELLING MACHINES [76] Inventor: Vittorio S1150, Via lrnerio 12/3,

Bologna, Italy 40100 [221 Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 306,111

5/1973 Tavernier 156/571 Primary Bummer-Douglas J. Drummond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Guido Modiano; Albert Josif [57] ABSTRACT A device for withdrawing labels from a fixed store in labelling machines, comprising a drive shaft rotably supported in a base and driven with continuous motion, a plate keyed on to the shaft, a plurality of oscillating elements comprising a cylindrical segment portion and supported rotably by the plate in positions angularly distributed on a circle: concentric with the shaft, the cylindrical portions having a development substantially equal to the length of the labels and lying on a circle substantially tangential to the front label of the pack of labels contained in the store, drive members for driving the oscillating elements in such a manner that their cylindrical segment portion rolls on the front label of the store, and means for removing'the label from the oscillating elements. Thedrive members are such that the cylindrical segment portions, during the angular interval in which they are not in contact with the front label of the store, are kept disposed concentric with the axis of the drive shaft.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWI'NG LABELS FROM A STORE IN LABELLING MACHINES 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for withdrawing labels from a store in labelling machines.

Labelling machines presently available onthe market are divided substantially into two types: one in which the label store is mobile and the other in which the label store is fixed. Normally the device which withdraws the labels from the store consists of a rotating drum to peripheral zones of which a layer of glue is applied by means of suitable gumming rollers. If the store is of the mobile type, the withdrawal is made by giving the store an oscillatory motion such that each label adheres, Without slipping, to a corresponding zone of the drum provided with glue, and remains attached to it. If however the store is of the fixed type, withdrawal is made by means of circular sectors driven by cam means so that they first come into contact with the glue applicators and then roll on the labels, so removing them from the store which contains them.

Known labelling machines give rise in all cases to substantial operational disadvantages. For example the mobile store, because of its bulk and weight, places limits both on the speed of the machine and on the perfect extraction of the labels. On the other hand the arrangement of circular sectors on the drum gives rise to a whole set of disadvantages among which are the nonuniformity of the layer of glue applied to them, the complexity of the control members. and the limits placed on the length of the labels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a device which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages and gives a high degree of adaptability to the various label sizes to be used.

According to the invention there is provided a device for withdrawing labels from a store in labelling machines, comprising a drive shaft rotably supported in a base and driven with continuous motion, a plate keyed on to said shaft, a plurality of oscillating elements comprising a cylindrical segment portion and supported rotably by said plate in positions an gularly distributed on a circle concentric with said shaft, the cylindrical portions having a development substantially equal to the length of the labels and lying on a circle substantially tangential to the front label of the pack of labels contained in the store, drive members for driving said oscillating elements in such a manner that their cylindrical segment portion rolls on the front label of the store and means for removing said label from the oscillating elements, said drive members being such that the cylindrical segment portions, during the angular interval in which they are not in contact with the front label of the store, are kept disposed concentric with the axis of said drive shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS view of the device according to the invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the stated figures, in which the same elements or constituent parts are indicated by similar reference numerals, the device according to the invention comprises a base or box 1, of somewhat flat shape, at the centre of which there is a sleeve 2 within which a vertical shaft 5 is rotably supported by bearings 3, 4.

Below the box 1 there is disposed on the shaft 5 a gear wheel 6 driven by drive members notshown. The gear 6, rotably rigid by means of a key 7 with the shaft 5, rotates this latter in the direction of the arrow fl. Above the sleeve 2, there is keyed to the shaft 5, by means of a key 8 which engages with a sleeve 9, a plate 10 on the periphery of which there is provided a plurality of bosses 11 (in the case shown the-re are six), the axes of which are parallel with the longitudinal axes of the shaft 5. The plate 10 is housed in a circular aperture formed in the plate 12 which upperly closes the box 1, and its external edge is sealed against the edge of the circular aperture by way of a gasket 13. A ring gear 14 which engages with a gear wheel 15 fixed to a shaft 16 is rotably rigid with the plate'lO in a position immediately under the plate 12.

Said shaft 16 is supported by bearings 17, 18, in a bush 19 inserted and fixed in the plate 12, and carrying above this latter a gumming roller 20, by which the glue is applied to theelements withdrawing the label as will be more evident hereinafter.

In the bosses 11, supported by bearings 21, 22, there are respectively disposed pivots or shafts 23 which extend parallel to the central shaft 5.

Each shaft 23 projects upperly and lowerly from the plate 12.On that part of it located above the plate 12 there is fixed a mushroom shaped element 24 comprising a radial arm 25 locked on the shaft 23 and a cylindrical segment 26, the radius of curvature of which passes through the axis of the shaft 5. Said cylindrical segment 26 has a development and height substantially equal to the length and height respectively of the labels contained in the store.

On that part of the pivot 23 lying below the plate 10 there is a radial lever 27, the end of which is traversed by a bolt 28 carrying a pair of bearings 29, 30. The bearings 29, 30 are located in a groove 31 in a cam 32 fixed to the sleeve 2 of the base 1. The cam 32 is of the radial type and the groove 31 has a section configured such that the bearing 29 rolls on its external wall, whereas the bearing 30 rests on its internal wall.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the profile of the groove is such as to enable the element i24.to oscillate about the pivot 23 so enabling the cylindrical segment 26 to roll on the front label of the labelsE contained in the store 33. The store 33 is fixed on the plate 12 in such a position that said front label is tangential to the circle which has a radius equal to the distance between the axis of the drive shaft 5 and the external surface of the segment 26. In FIG. 1 said circle is shown by the reference numeral34 with a dashed and dotted line.

For the remaining part of its rotation, the element 24 remains with the arm 25 perfectly radial to the shaft 5, to enable the labels'E to be removed from it by the device indicated overall by the reference numeral 35 and the application of a film of glue by the gumming roller 20. In particular, when the element 24 is at the gumming roller, there is a special arrangement which enables the external surface of the cylindrical segment 26 v to remain in perfect coincidence with the circle 34.

This special arrangement consists of an arvate guide member 36 fixed to the plate 12 in front of the gumming roller and extending in the form of an are concentric with the circle 37 described by the axes of the pivots 23. The external periphery of the guide 36 is arranged for engagement by a pair of rollers 38, 39 supported idly in projections 40 formed on the lower wall of the arms 25. The rollers 38, 39, by their action on the guide 36, prevent any oscillating motion of the element 24 about the fulcrum 23, caused by the inevitable I play and yielding relative to the bearings resting on the walls of the groove 31.

Said device 35, which as stated transfers the labels on to the article to be labelled, comprises a type of turntable on the periphery of which are fixed bodies or segmentsof elastic material, for example expanded plastic.

At the sides of each segment there are rods 42, 43 extending parallel to the axis of the turntable and pro vided with claw or pincer members 44, 45 which are controlled by cam drive members, not shown, so as to grip the front and rear edges of the label in the manner of pincers, so retaining it against the body 41.

The operation of the device described isas follows.

It will be supposed that the initial position is that indicated by A in FIG. 1 and the positions assumed by the elements 24 will be considered to be the successive working positions assumed by a single element 24 during one cycle of the machine.

In the position A, the element 24 is perfectly radial with the shaft 5 and its external periphery lies on the circle 34. The element 24 maintains this radial position until it reaches the position B, at which a layer of glue is spread by the'roller 20 on to the external surface of the cylindrical segment 26. As stated the layer has a uniform thickness because of the engagement of rollers 38, 39 with the external profile of the guide 36 which prevents oscillations about the pivot 23 due to any play between the rollers 29, 30 and the groove 31.

After the glue film has been spread, shortly before the position C, the element 24 begins to pivot forward because of the particular shape of the groove 31 which causes the rollers 29, 30 to deviate outwards, so moving the arm 25 forwards with respect to the plate 10 which supports it and rotates in the direction of the arrow f1.

The element 24 keeps this inclination until its back edge, which because of the'inclination is outside the circle 34, rests on the corresponding rear zone of the first label E contained in the store 33. This condition occurs in the proximity of the straight line D, where the segment 26 is positioned as shown by the dashed are F. It should be noted that the arc F is tangential to the label E and, for perfect operation, the distance between the axis of the pivot 23 and one-edge 46 of the segment 26 must be substantially equal to the difference between the radii of the circles 34 and 37 plus the camber 47 of the cylindrical segment 26.

At this point, because of the particular configuration of the groove 1, the stage in which the segment 26 rolls on the label E begins, this rolling separating the label which then remains attached to the external surface of the segment 26 and receives its glue.

During rolling the segment 26 passes from the position D, through the position G and into the position H, in which it is in the form of an arc of a circle I with its front edge 48 tangential to the marginal zone of the store which it is just about to abandon.

As soon as this happens the element 24 returns to a radial disposition with respect to the shaft 5, which occurs in a position corresponding with the line L.

During the interval of rotation between L and A, the labels E adhering to the segment 26 pass to the turntable 35. For this purpose, at the pointof tangency M between the circle 34 and circle 49 described by the turntable 35, the pincer members 44 are made to close on to the elastic body 41 and grip the front edge of the label. Advantageously in the segment 26 there are notches to permit the passage of the pincer members 44, which can thus grip the labels from behind and remove them from thesurface to which they adhere.

As the peripheral speed of the device described and that of the turntable 35 are equal at the point of tangency M, it is also possible to grip the label at the rear by the member 43, so keeping it extended on the body 41 and facilitate the successive operationsduring the passage of the label to the article to receive it.

In the device described, the control ofthe element 24 enables the external surface of the segment 26 to always have a single tangent line both with respect to the gumming roller 20 and to the labels and turntable 35.

These advantages favour the application of a uniform filmof glue on to the external surface of the segment 26 and the withdrawal of the labels from the store 33. In fact any relative movement or sliding between the segment 26 and labels E is avoided, which otherwise could cause operational defects such as the extraction of more than one label or the wrong positioning of labels on the element 24 and hence the malfunctioning of the operational stations situated downstream.

Of no less importance is the advantage conferred by the device described of being able to retain the labels by gripping them on two opposite sides. Up to now the impossibility of obtaining equal peripheral speeds over by providing a plurality of suitably distributed holes in the sector 26 connected to a source of suction, instead of by adherence.

1 claim:

1. A device for withdrawing labels from a pack of labels contained in a fixed store of'a labelling machine, comprising a base, a drive shaft rotatably supported by said base and driven with continuous motion, a plate rigid with said shaft, a plurality of oscillating elements pivotally supported by said plate inpositions angularly spaced in a circle concentric with said shaft and each movement of said roller along the path of said groove causes each of said cylindrical segment portions to perform a rolling movement on the front label of said store, thereby progressively withdrawing said front label therefrom, said device further comprising a gumming roller for applying a film of glue on said cylindrical segment portions before they come into engagement with said labels and means for removing the labels from said oscillating elements, said means including a 6 surface portion for engaging said labels held by said oscillating elements into a position in which said pincer members hold said labels into contact with said blocks. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical segment portions of said oscillating elements are each provided with a number of notches for receiving said pincer members before said pincer members are moved in said position in which they held said labels in contact with said blocks.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oscillating elements are each provided with a pair of rollers spaced apart and lying on a circumference concentric with said drive shaft, the device further including an arcuate guide member arranged infront of said gumming roller and concentric with said cylindrical segment portions for engagement with said pair of rollers when said cylindrical segment portion engages said gumming roller. I I 

1. A device for withdrawing labels from a pack of labels contained in a fixed store of a labelling machine, comprising a base, a drive shaft rotatably supported by said base and driven with continuous motion, a plate rigid with said shaft, a plurality of oscillating elements pivotally supported by said plate in positions angularly spaced in a circle concentric with said shaft and each comprising a cylindrical segment portion having a development substantially equal to the length of the labels and lying on a circle substantially tangential to the front label of said pack of labels contained in said store, each of said oscillating elements further comprising an arm pivoted to said plate and extending substantially radially thereto and provided at its free end with said cylindrical segment portion and at its pivoting end with a lever having at least an idle roller for engagement with a groove defining a radial fixed cam, whereby the movement of said roller along the path of said groove causes each of said cylindrical segment portions to perform a rolling movement on the front label of said store, thereby progressively withdrawing said front label therefrom, said device further comprising a gumming roller for applying a film of glue on said cylindrical segment portions before they come into engagement with said labels and means for removing the labels from said oscillating elements, said means including a turntable provided with a plurality of blocks of substantially elastic material having a cylindrical external surface portion substantially equal to that of said cylindrical segment portions for contacting a corresponding one thereof during rotation oF said plate and said turntable, said blocks being laterally provided with rods extending substantially parallel to the axis of said turntable and each provided with a pincer member projecting towards said cylindrical external surface portion, said rods being movable from a position in which said pincer members are spaced from said cylindrical external surface portion for engaging said labels held by said oscillating elements into a position in which said pincer members hold said labels into contact with said blocks.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical segment portions of said oscillating elements are each provided with a number of notches for receiving said pincer members before said pincer members are moved in said position in which they held said labels in contact with said blocks.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oscillating elements are each provided with a pair of rollers spaced apart and lying on a circumference concentric with said drive shaft, the device further including an arcuate guide member arranged in front of said gumming roller and concentric with said cylindrical segment portions for engagement with said pair of rollers when said cylindrical segment portion engages said gumming roller. 